Boy, 10 quizzed on shop inferno

Jul 6 2006 By Catherine Lillington

A BOY, aged ten, has been arrested on suspicion of torching a charity shop which single-handedly funds a sanctuary caring for sick and neglected farm animals.

The Farm Animal Sanctuary shop, in New Road, Rubery, was completely gutted in the blaze, leaving the charity without funding for food and bedding for more than 100 animals.

The lives of an elderly couple, who live above the shop, were also put at risk from the fire which took hold after rubbish was set alight near a ventilation fan outside.

Val Wright, who works at the shop with five other volunteers, said she was devastated when she heard about Sunday's fire.

The 57-year-old, from Alvechurch, added: "The money we raise keeps the animals in food, bedding and pays for vet bills.

"These animals are sick, have been abused or abandoned, some are lame or blind. They come to us in a very bad condition but we nurse them back to health.

"At the moment we have got some young lambs in but now we are not raising money we dont know how we we going to care for them and the other animals.

"This is heartbreaking because weve put all our efforts into keeping going."

The Farm Animal Sanctuary, in Stoney Lane, Tardebigge, Worcestershire, was set up in 1989 and looks after rescued sheep, goats, pigs, ponies and poultry.

Its co-founder, Maureen Lawless, said the sanctuary should be buying in bales of hay for the winter.

She added: "This is the time of year when hay's cheapest and when we'll probably spend most of our money.

"This shop is absolutely crucial for our income and we were having a big push to raise money."

The attack is the most recent in a spate of vandalism in the area, in which two other charity shops were targeted, along with St Chad's Church and JCB diggers working on a skate park.

Donations to the charity can be posted to Farm Animal Sanctuary, Stoney Lane, Tardebigge, Bromsgrove, B60 1LY. n The youth has been bailed until later this month while investigations continue.

Anyone with information can contact police on 08457 444 888 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.